Clamping mechanism for welders.



A. W. RICHARDS.

CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR WELDERS. APPLICATION FILED MA'Y18. mu.

1 374,45 1 Patented Aug. 6, 191&

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

A. W. RICHARDS.

CLAMPINB MECHANISM FOR WELDERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. I917.

1,274,455 1 Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

2 SHEEYSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARCHEB W. RICHARDS. OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO THE FIBESTONE STEEL PRODUCTS COMPANIKOF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OFo'mo.

CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR WELDERS.

. Specification of Letters ?atent.

Patented Aug-.6, 1918.

Application filedMay 18, 1917. Serial No. 189,439.

ful Improvements in Clamping Mechanism for ll'elders. as shown in theaccompanying specification.

This invention is directed to an attachment for use on electric welders.or similar apparatus. designed to replace the heavy manually-operableclamps at present in use on'this type of machine. and to quickly andaccurately clamp ends of metal in abutment for the operation known asbutt-welding. It is particularly designed for butt-welding the ends ofrims. fellv bands or the like parts for the manufacture of demountableautomobile rims although it is not intended to be confined to this classof work.

In the drawings accompanyingthis application is shown one form of -thedevice embodying m invention. in which Figure 1 is a side elevation ofan "elec- I tric welder with the clamping mechanism mounted thereon, theclamping mechanism bein shown in section. with clamps withdrawn and aportion of the rim mounted on the welder. i

Fig. 2 is a similar view of my attaclnnent showing the mechanism inextended or clamping position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the clamping attachment the left handhalf beingshown in section with the clamping shoe removed. The welder isindicated as a whole by the numeral 1 and is of an v well known type,the platen being designated by the numeral 2. The clamping mechanism iscarried in the platen and Comprises two similar mechanisms placed injuxtaposition. one righthand and one left'hand, the construction beingthe same except for a reversal of parts. Ruth mechanism comprises abracket or housing 4. which is secured to the platen 2 bv a forwardlyextending arm 5 on the end of which is secured a rest 6 for the work,here shown as a rim base 7.

Onthe upper rear corner of each housing is secured a cylinder 8 in whichis mounted for reciprocation a piston 9. This cylinder is intended to beconnected with a source of fluid pressure, air or water by means ofpipes 10 arranged to afl'ord 1nlet or outlet means for operation of thepiston as will be readily understood. A link 11 is connected to thepiston J at one end. the other end being pivotally ccnnected to the kneeof a toggle formed by levers l2 and 13. p

The lever 12 is pivoted on a transverse rod 14 mounted in the upper endof the casing 4. and the lever 13 is pivota ll v connected to a web 15formed on the upper side of the movable clamping arm 16. The housing 4is open to permit the reci|n-ocation ot' the clamping arm and its outerside wall supports. by 'means of bolts 17. a guide rail in formed withan enlarged head 1 rearward extension 20 is formed in the arm 16 whichis provided with a longitudinal slot- 21. roller 2:! mounted on a shaft23 is received in this slot and supports the rear end of the arm. Theouter face of each arm 16 is provided with a longitudinal groove ortrack 24 in which is received the head 19 of the guide r ail plates 2.1and :26 being secured to the arnr serving to hold it on the rail. Theupper plate 2?: is cut back in its. rear portion as at 2'[ to cnablc'theclamping arm to drop on the work as will appear in the description ofthe operation of theapparatus. To the front inner face of eaclrclampingarm is fastened a shoe :23 the under side of which has a hardened face29 adapted to come directly over the work rest (3. and provided withrecesses 31 to receive ribs or other irregularities on the rim.Adjusting screws 30 are carried in the clamping arms and bears againstthe upper surface of the shoes.

A rini section. or other part. being ready for welding the ends areplaced in abutmenton the work rests ti and the valves opened admitting;fluid pressure on the rear of the pistons S. The clamping arms 11: arethen moved forward horizontally until recessed portion 23? of the plates25 registers with the rails 19. At the same time the roller 22 reachesthe end of the slot 21. Continued movement of the piston straightens outthe toggle 12-13 and the arm 16 rocks on the roller, bringing theclamping 'shoe down firmlv on the ends of the work. 'When the a weldingis completed the piston is withdrawn the clamping arm rising up from thework in a straight line until the rail 19 strikes the lower plate 26.whereupon the arm will be withdrawn to its original position. 4

In placing the rim or other material in position to be clamped andwelded it is often necessary for the operator'to hold the ends togetheruntil they are clamped as they may be sprung out of line. Were anordinary swinging clamp used for this work, it would be very dangerousas the workmans hand could be caught before he had a chance to withdrawit. With the arrangement here shown the lateral motion ofthe clampingarm, passing as it does but a slight distance over the upper surface ofthe rim, will serve ush the hand of the operator oil the rim ore theclamp descends. It is obvious that various changes and modifications mabe made in the construction of the clamping mechanism, without departingfromlthe spirit of the invention, it being essential that the clamp .bemoved horizontally over to a point above its clamping position and thendownwardly on to the work. This may be done by a system of levers otherthan that shown or by the use of separate cylinders to perform the twomovements, 7 a

Whatlclaim is:

to be 1, In combination with an electric welder,

a clamping arm adapted to hold thework,

and means to move said clamping am .111

one directionover. thework, and in another direct-ion to clampingposition.

2 In combination with an electric welder, to hold the work anthmeanstomove said clamping arm laterally, to a position over the work, andvertically to clamping pos'tion. a

3.,- In combination with an electric welder, a, clamping arm, a support;for said arm adapted to. guide it for horizontal movement;

to clamping position and release it for clamping.

4. In combination with an electric welder, a clamping arm means to guidesaid arm horizontal y to clamping position and to release it forvertical movement for clamping, and lever mechanism to move ithorizontally and vertically.

5. In combination with an electric welder, a clamping arm, means toguide said arm horizontally to clamping position and to release it forvertical movement for clamping, a toggle joint connected to said arm andadapted to move it horizontally and vertically.

6. A clamping mechanism for an electric welder comprising'a bracket onsaid welder, a clamping arm, a rail on said bracket to support theclamping arm for horizontal movement,the body oi the arm being providedwith a slot, a shaft in said bracket passing through said slot, andadapted to form a pivotal support for the arm in its vertical movement.

7. A clamping mechanism for an electric welder, comprising a bracket onsaid welder, a clamping arm capable of both horizontal and verticalmovement, a rail on said bracket to support the clamping arm forhorizontal movement,-a shaft passing through the arm and adapted toform'a pivot forithe vefiical movement of the arm, 'a toggle lever connected to said bracket and said arm, and a fluid actuated mechanism foroperating said toggle to move the clamping am both horizontally andvertically.

ARCHER w. RICHARDS.

